Prescott Met Up With Another Casino Firm Rep

Prescott is like a deer caught in the headlights anew as it was revealed July 13 that he had a meeting with a gambling firm that is a partner of casino tycoon Philip Anschutz in the casino development of the Millennium Dome.

The fresh controversy was admitted by Prescott during a questioning with the Tories, but he said that he was only introduced to a representative from Kerzner International, but have not had any formal meeting with the firm.

Prescott has previously only admitted to having met up with casino officials only once in Sydney back in 2004.

"I have had no meetings with Kerzner International. On Wednesday 17 August 2005, while on a well-publicised visit to the Greenwich Peninsula, I was one of a number of guests who were updated on progress in the area," Prescott said. "I believe one of those present was a representative of Kerzner International but at no time did I have any conversations about plans for a casino, and I was accompanied by officials at all time," he added.

The Deputy Prime Minister was accused of misleading MPs following his failure to admit to this meeting in the past. It also casts further doubts on Prescott's claims that he was not involved in the bid to win the license to turn the Dome into a super casino.